Following the Antenna Cloud Farm Music Walk’s successful debut last year, organizer Michi Wiancko is “trying to go as deep as possible” this year, to present the “highest-quality experience.”

The second annual Music Walk, part of the Gill-based organization’s summer live music series, shepherds music lovers around downtown Turners Falls to enjoy a day-long series of musical performances beginning at 2 p.m this Saturday, July 1.

Wiancko said it will be a continuation and refinement of last year’s “experiment,” building upon the momentum started by what she called “a big town takeover” last year. This year’s event schedule includes six stops, with each participating musician featuring stylistically and culturally-distinct identities.

“I think the Music Walk, in particular, is designed so people can just walk through town and have a really visceral experience of absorbing enjoying and engaging with… different kinds of music for free,” Wiancko said.

According to the event schedule, the day will start at 2 p.m. at Unity Park, where Marcy Gregoire of Under the Tree Arts and Nice! Snack Parlor will host a children’s costume parade, “family-friendly art-making,” an art presentation from sculptor, painter and teacher Annaleah Gregoire, and live music from multi-instrumentalist James Bird.

Travis Laplante will then play “hypnotic, innovative and virtuosic solo saxophone” at the Great Falls Discovery Center at 3 p.m.

A string quartet from the New England Repertory Orchestra will follow with “new and thrilling chamber music” at Spinner Park at 4 p.m.

Lily-Rakia Chandler will demonstrate “love and liberation in musical practice, from Hebrew melodies to traditional Mohawk chant,” at Peskeomskut Park at 5 p.m.

Subsequently at Peskeomskut Park, Aisha Burns will sing and play “intimate and powerful” violin music at 6 p.m.

Finally, Blood Drum Spirit, “a deeply impressive ensemble of musical heavy-hitters, bringing a new global vision to their craft,” will close out the evening at 7 p.m. at Peskeomskut Park.

“It’s just fabulous that Antenna Cloud Farm is bringing such diverse music and such beautiful music to so many locations in town,” Gregoire said. “It’ll be very celebratory and that’s what I’m excited about.”

Saturday’s lineup predominantly highlights local talent, an aspect of the festival that Wiancko framed as one of this year’s themes. The broad array of genres and identities being celebrated, she said, coincides with Antenna Cloud Farm’s mission to “de-center” the hyperfocus on white western creation.

“I think the value of trying to understand a more global view of music is unparalleled, really,” Wiancko said. “Hopefully, there will come a time in the future where we don’t see diversity as diversity. We just see it as normal.”

At the same time, though, at its core, the Music Walk is simply an occasion to have fun and appreciate good music.

“The focus is still on creating the most joyful and rewarding experience for the listener,” Wiancko emphasized.

More details regarding the music walk can be found at antennacloudfarm.com/2023-music-walk. More details regarding the broader Antenna Cloud Farm live music series can be found at antennacloudfarm.com/2023-concerts.

Reach Julian Mendoza at 413-930-4231 or jmendoza@recorder.com.

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